That evening, the Zhong couple had a heartfelt conversation.
“Xiyan is a good child, it’s just…” Liang Qiu’s taiyang acupoint throbbed. Having grown up following rules and conventions, she truly couldn’t understand Kong Xiyan’s behavior of hijacking a car on the street.
“Just as the police chief said, she needs proper guidance.” Zhong Qiqiang took a deep breath and made a decision: “Darling, I don’t want Xiyan to return to her adoptive parents for now. I want her to stay here.”
Zhong Qiqiang truly couldn’t imagine what his daughter had been taught by her adoptive parents!
After all, the Zhong Family was the wealthiest in Nancheng. How could their own biological daughter stoop to hijacking a car on the street?
Given their blood ties, if they didn’t discipline her properly and she ended up committing some terrible deed in the future, Zhong Qiqiang would never be able to forgive himself!
In the end, it was Liang Qiu who decided to talk to Zhong Yangyang first.
The child’s opinion mattered too.
Liang Qiu gently comforted Zhong Yangyang before bringing up Kong Xiyan’s street hijacking: “For her to do something like this, who knows what kind of upbringing she had before.”
If Kong Xiyan were truly beyond redemption, the couple might have been able to harden their hearts and leave her be. But the fact that Kong Xiyan had rushed to save Zhong Yangyang showed that the girl still had kindness in her.
That, at least, resembled them as parents.
Hearing Liang Qiu say this, Zhong Yangyang also gasped, recalling how Kong Xiyan had casually invited her to share the loot and eat melon after hijacking the car, and how she seemed utterly unfazed even when questioned by the police…
This! This was practically the behavior of an outlaw!
If things continued like this, it would be disastrous!
With Liang Qiu’s words reaching this point, Zhong Yangyang truly had no reason to refuse. Besides, even though she didn’t like Kong Xiyan, she couldn’t bear to watch her descend into the abyss of lawlessness. In the end, she could only nod, clasping Liang Qiu’s hand in return: “Alright, Mom! Let’s work together and definitely reform her into…”
Zhong Yangyang originally wanted to say she wanted to reform Kong Xiyan into a proper young lady from a prestigious family, but remembering how Kong Xiyan had held her down and spanked her, Zhong Yangyang blushed.
No, a true young lady from a prestigious family would never do such a thing!
In the end, she could only settle for a more modest goal, saying: “Definitely reform her into a law-abiding citizen!”
Liang Qiu nodded firmly, deeply moved by the warmth and kindness of the daughter she had raised with her own hands.
She always knew that Yangyang was the gentlest, most obedient little treasure!
She truly hoped Kong Xiyan could be like Yangyang too—even if she had just one-tenth of Yangyang’s goodness… that would be enough!
Meanwhile, Kong Xiyan, who was sitting cross-legged in her bedroom while on a call, suddenly sneezed: “Achoo.”
A crisp male voice came from the phone beside her: “Boss Kong, did you catch a cold? That shouldn’t be possible, right? Aren’t you supposed to be immune to all poisons and indestructible?”
“Are you being polite?” Kong Xiyan grabbed a tissue nearby and wiped her nose. “My nose just itched a little. What about the thing I asked you to investigate earlier?”
“Well, I hacked into Nancheng’s traffic network and checked the transportation records for that day. There was indeed a ferry bound for northern Myanmar at that time. It’s possible they intended to send Zhong Yangyang there.”
“Did you find out who was behind it?” Kong Xiyan frowned slightly.
“No, the other party was very careful.” The person on the other end of the phone snorted lightly, “However, this ferry belongs to the Su Family of Nancheng.”
“The Su Family?” Kong Xiyan narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Yes, should we continue investigating?”
“Investigate.”
“Hehe, then what about my little uncle’s illness…” The person on the other end immediately chuckled in a mercenary tone, “Don’t worry, I know Boss Kong’s rules best! The five million for the consultation has already been transferred to your account! My little uncle, he…”
“The King of Hell won’t be taking his life just yet.” Kong Xiyan briskly recited a series of Chinese medicine names and dosages: “Prepare one dose according to this prescription, decoct it three times. Start with high heat, then switch to low heat once it boils. Boil three bowls of water down to one bowl, mix them together, and take it in three portions—morning, noon, and evening. Contact me again after seven days. Your little uncle has been poisoned with a slow-acting toxin for years, damaging his foundation. This can’t be rushed.”
“Got it, thank you, Dr. Kong!” The person on the other end said excitedly, “Leave the Su Family matter to me! I’ll make sure to find out everything, even what color underwear their old patriarch wears on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays! Goodbye now~”
Kong Xiyan wanted to say she wasn’t interested in the Su Family patriarch’s underwear, but before she could speak, the other person had already hung up.
What an impatient one.
Shaking her head, Kong Xiyan was about to close her eyes and meditate when she heard a knock at the door.
The visitor was Zhong Qiqiang.
He didn’t seem very skilled at making small talk with Kong Xiyan, getting straight to the point without beating around the bush. First, he thanked Kong Xiyan for saving Zhong Yangyang, then went directly to the main topic: “I’ve already spoken to the principal of Shi Yizhong. Starting tomorrow, you’ll attend school with Yangyang as a transfer student in her class. Give it a try for a while.”
“Hmm?” Kong Xiyan blinked.
Attend school?
Her?
Was there anyone in Nancheng who could teach her?!
Just as Kong Xiyan was about to refuse, she remembered the classmates of Zhong Yangyang she had met that day. Her beautiful eyes flickered, and she agreed.
The evil aura that had afflicted Zhong Yong had now transferred to Zhong Yangyang, which was enough proof that someone was targeting the Zhong Family, determined to see bloodshed and a death in the family.
The smooth kidnapping at the orphanage gate also proved that there were troublemakers around Zhong Yangyang.
It wouldn’t hurt for her to go and investigate.
The next morning, within the entire Zhong Family, Zhong Yong had the strongest reaction to Kong Xiyan attending school with Zhong Yangyang.
“I’m telling you! This whole thing with my sister was staged by her! It’s all just an excuse to stay in our house! Not only are you not kicking her out, but you’re letting her go to school with my sister! No way, no way!” Zhong Yong pointed at Kong Xiyan, his eyes wide open. “I’m telling you, she’s after our family’s… uh… assets! Make her leave!”
He almost blurted out the word “inheritance” again. Zhong Yong pursed his lips, a bit fearful.
“Xiao Yong, you mustn’t be so rude!” Liang Qiu said sternly. “Who taught you to talk like that!”
Scolded by Liang Qiu, Zhong Yong shrank his neck but still retorted stubbornly, “Anyway, I don’t agree! Make her leave! Get out!”
Zhong Yong was so angry he wanted to roll on the floor in protest, but after Zhong Qiqiang kicked him in the butt, he ran upstairs, full of grievances.
Liang Qiu stopped Zhong Yangyang, who wanted to rush upstairs to reason with her brother, and shook her head. “It’s almost time. You two should get going.”
We can’t keep indulging Zhong Yong like this, or when will he ever grow up!
“I told the school you two are cousins.” After saying this, Zhong Qiqiang deliberately glanced at Kong Xiyan. Seeing her still looking calm and indifferent, he continued: “Xiyan is only auditing classes, so her usual grades won’t count, and she doesn’t need to take the college entrance exam. Just think of it as experiencing the school atmosphere.”
After all, Shi Yizhong has always been known for its strict teaching, especially the Jianzi Ban that Zhong Yangyang is in. Having Kong Xiyan experience it might help rein in her temperament a bit.
“Cousins?” Kong Xiyan waited until Zhong Qiqiang finished speaking before turning to look at Zhong Yangyang. She raised an eyebrow with a teasing look in her eyes: “So, who’s the older sister and who’s the younger sister?”
“You—you can be the older sister, alright!” Zhong Yangyang felt inexplicably guilty the moment she met Kong Xiyan’s gaze and instinctively covered her bottom with both hands.
“Hmm, fine.” Kong Xiyan nodded casually and started walking out.
“Wait a minute.” Zhong Yangyang stopped Kong Xiyan: “Don’t carry that bag you’re wearing. If you don’t mind, I have a bag here that I only used for two or three months last year. I’ve also prepared all the stationery and things you’ll need…”
Kong Xiyan didn’t move, only letting her gaze fall on the bag Zhong Yangyang handed over. It was a calfskin backpack, probably worth over three hundred thousand. It was clear that Zhong Yangyang usually took good care of it and must have liked it a lot.
“Xiyan, time is a bit tight right now. This weekend, I’ll take you shopping. For now, just make do with this.” Liang Qiu, worried that Kong Xiyan might mind using Zhong Yangyang’s secondhand bag, stepped forward with a gentle smile to smooth things over.
“Whatever.” Kong Xiyan didn’t care about these things. After taking the bag from Kong Xiyan, she removed the canvas bag she was carrying and handed it to the butler, asking him to take it back to her room and put it away.
The butler looked at the old bag in his hand, its original color long faded, and hesitated to speak. Finally, when he met Kong Xiyan’s indifferent eyes, he nodded: “Yes, Miss Cousin.”
From today on, Kong Xiyan’s identity would be the cousin staying with the Zhong Family.